Tuesday, March 10, 2009

one year

Chad's grandpa, Stanley, has been in heaven for one year today.

He has been worshipping his creator face to face for one year.

We have been missing him for one year.

I will never forget those last few days with Grandpa. His body overcome with cancer. Spending every available moment at Hospice hoping to bring Grandpa comfort with our presence. The kids drew him a giant poster for his wall and they were never afraid to hold Grandpa's hand or to give him hugs even as he seemed to wither away . Visitors coming by to pray with him and for him...and for Grandma, his bride of 60+ years. Grandma and her friends quoting scripture after scripture to one another from memory. My father-in-law, Jay, feeding him ice cream and on the day before he passed feeding him chicken noodle soup. Grandpa would smack his lips and say "Mmmm, that's good." after every bite. Rhonda (Chad's stepmom) was so supportive of Jay and the rest of the family, a constant support for her family.

It was amazing to me to see Grandpa rally the day before he died, sitting up and talking and actually eating something other than ice cream. We all thought that he was doing so much better and that we had more time with him. God had other plans but I think He gave us one last day of hope and to see Grandpa more like himself. Grandpa passed the next evening. I had gone home to get the kids to bed and received a call shortly after from Chad saying that Grandpa was gone. After a babysitter came over, I went up to Hospice to be with Chad and the rest of the family. I walked into Grandpa's room and have never felt so peaceful. The presence of God was in that room comforting his children. It was truly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Grandma was in the chapel with Jay and Jimmy (Chad's uncle) and the people at Hospice had lit an oil lamp for grandpa and the 4 others that had died that day. It was amazing to see that Grandpa's lamp had less oil than the others but his flame was brighter and taller than the other four. For some reason it was a comfort. It was as if God was saying that Grandpa was okay and was in God's glory.

One year has passed since that day and we all miss him terribly but through Jesus Christ we know what we will see him again. What a glorious day that will be.

As sad as Stanley's passing was, your memory of those final moments is truly precious and quite beautiful. I can just imagine the family gathered -- everyone so loving and peaceful and calm. You are blessed to be in the company of the Miller's -- good, good people. Stanley certainly had much to contribute to that trait being passed on to Jay, to Chad, and I'm sure to your children as well. A constant reminder of grace.

manda

I am a Jesus following-wife-mom-daughter-sister-friend-gardener-beekeeper-reader-movie lover-who loves to laugh a lot-who just bought a fixer upper-who needs to lose some pounds. This is my tiny space on the world wide web where I can share bits and pieces of my life...the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly.